Stem-winding watch



(No Model.)

D.H. O:HUROH.

STEM WINDING WATCH.

Patented July 3, 1883,.

INVENTUR- WTNEEEEE N, PETERS Fhma-Lilhngmphur, Waxhinglnn. n. c.

UNITED STATES P TENT UFFICE.

DUANE H. CHURCH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN WATCH COMPANY, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEM-W l NDING WATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,719, dated July 3, 1883.

(N model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, DUANE H. CHURCH, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Stem-Winding Watches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to watches in which the winding and hand-setting mechanism is operated entirely by a winding-bar or keypipe in the stem or pendant of the watch-case, the said winding-bar being connected by suitable intermediate mechanism with either the main winding-wheel or the pinion on the arbor carrying the hands, and adapted to be I 5 moved endwise to change its connection from the winding-wheel to the handsetting pinion, or vice versa.

Heretofore in watches oi this class said .intermediate mechanism has always been normally in engagement with the main windingwheel and disconnected from the hand-setting pinion, so that an outward movement of said bar has been required to change the connec tion of said mechanism and adapt the wind ing-bar for setting the hands. Apositive connection has therefore been required between the winding-bar and the intermediate mechanism of. such nature as will enable the bar,

when pulled outwardly, to effect the neces-' sary change, such positive connection making the winding-bar virtually a part of the mechanism and preventing the free interchange of the movement from one case to another, or rendering such interchange a matter of con- 3 5 siderable difficulty, expense, and uncertainty. Myinvention has for its object to obviate a positive connection between the winding-bar and the intermediate mechanism in a watch of the class above named, and thereby make 40 the movements and cases freely interchangeable without special adaptation of any move ment to any case.

To this end my invention consists in making the intermediate mechanism above re ferred to normally in position to operate the hands, so that only an inward movement of the winding-bar will be required to change the connection of said intermediate mechan ism,'the winding-bar having only to exert a pushing-pressure against said mechanism, and requiring no positive connection therewith.

The invention also consists in the provision of automatic means in the case for regulating the endwise movement of the winding-bar and holding the same in one or more positions against accidental endwise movement.

The invention also consists in the provision of a loose or sliding device between the inner end of the winding bar and the intermediate mechanism, said device communicating to'said in termediate mechanism the end-thrust of the winding-bar, and enabling the latter to be made so short as to project but slightly into the movement and enable the latter to be readily applied to and removed from the case, all of which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents afront view of a pendant winding and setting watch embodying my invention, showing the intermediate windingand setting mechanism in engagement with the main windingwheel. Fig. 2 represents a similar view, showing the intermediate winding and setting mechanism in its normal position.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

I have shown as the intermediate mechanism which connects the winding-bar or keypipe with the main winding-wheel A, or with the hand-setting pinion B, the ordinary pivoted yoke, 0, having a central wheel, D, to engage with the winding-pinion E, and end wheels, F and G, meshing with the central wheel and adapted to be moved by the turning of the yoke on its pivot into engagement, respectively, with the main winding-wheel and the hand-setting pinion.

My invention is not limited to these partic- 9o vular devices, as it may be adapted to any of the known forms of intermediate mechanism.

' I arrange said intermediate mechanism so that when in its normal position, as when the'move; I ment is removed from the case,the mechanism will be in condition for setting the hands, the wheel G,in the form of mechanism illustrated, being held in engagement with the pinion B,

by a spring, I, on the back of the outer plate, I, of the movement, bearing against an arm, J, which is rigidly attached to arbor, K, journaled in theplate P, and provided with a dog, L, which is pressed by said spring I against the yoke C, and engages with a shoulder in said yoke, as shown in Fig. 2.

M represents the winding-bar or key-pipe, which is adapted to rota-to and to move endwise in the pendant N.

The winding-pinion E is j ournaled in a block attached to the plate I, and has a central orifice in line with the winding-bar. In said orifice is a loose bar or device, It, adapted to slide endwise.

S represents an arm or lever rigidly attached to the arbor K, and projecting over the end of the orifice in the winding-pinion E. The opposite end of the arbor K has a spring arm or lever, T, adapted to bear against the yoke C at a point on the opposite side of the pivot thereof to the point against which the dog L bears.

\Vhen it is desired to wind the watch, the winding-bar M is pushed inwardly from the positi on shown in Fig. 2,thereby pressing the loose bar or device It inwardly against the lever S, turning the arbor K through said lever and pressing the arm T against the yoke, as shown in Fig. 1, thus moving the yoke so that its end wheels are respectively connected with the main winding-wheel A and disconnected from the hand-setting pinion l3. IVhen the winding-bar is withdrawn, the spring I returns the yoke to its normal position.

It will be seen from the foregoing that when the winding-bar is drawn outwardly in the pendant it projects into the square orifice of the winding-pinion only to a sufficient extent to enable it to rotate said pinion for the purpose of setting the hands, and offers no obstructi on to the removal or application of the movement from or to the case, and is ready for use as soon as the movement is in place, the sliding bar or device R having no connection with the winding-bar, and serving only as a continuation of the winding-bar when the latter is pushed inwardly. 1

To limit the endwise movement of the winding-bar and hold the same with a sufficient degree of positiveness in one or both of its positions, I provide the pendant with a spring jaw or jaws, to a, formed preferably by partially splitting a tube, 1), lengthwise, and securing said tube into the orifice of the pendant. The tube 1) is formed at its split end with an internal bead, which constitutes the springjaws. The winding-bar is provided with two peripheral grooves, c 0, adapted to receive said jaws, the engagement of the jaws. with either of said grooves being sufficiently positive to prevent the winding-bar from being moved endwise, excepting by the application of sufficient pressure to displace the jaws. The portion of the winding-bar in which the grooves c c are formed is cylindrical, so that the engagement of the jaws a c with either of said grooves will not interfere with the rotation of the winding-bar.

Heretofore in watches of this class the movement has been provided with means for limiting the end movement of the winding-bar. By my improvement, however, the limits of said end movement are determined and governed in the case itself, instead of in the movement, as heretofore, so that the case is always ready for the introduction of any movement designed for it, the change being as easily effected as in a key-winding watch.

In hunting-case watches the groove 0 that is engaged with the jaws a when the winding-bar is pushed inwardly to engage the windingwheel with the intermediate mechanism should be wide enough to allow the additional inward motion necessary to operate the eatelv spring and open the case.

A suitable device should be employed to err able the operator to engage the intermediate mechanism with the main winding-wheel when the movement is removed from the case. A half or eccentric headed screw may be employed for this purpose, the head of said screw bearing against the lever S, and adapted,when turned partially around, to produce the same effect as the endpressure of the winding-bar.

Instead of grooves in the surface of the winding-bar, a single peripheral elevation or en largement may be formed thereon, the ends of which enlargement will form shoulders constituting an equivalent of the grooves.

I claim 1. In a pendant winding and setting watch, a movement having winding and setting mechanism adapted to be operated by the endwise movement of a winding bar or key, and normally in position to operate the hands,whereby a positive connection between the movement and winding-bar is avoided, as set forth.

2. In a pendant winding and setting watch, a movement having winding and setting mechanism normally in position to operate the hands, a winding bar or key having no positive connection with said mechanism, and a loose or sliding device adapted to communicate the inward end-thrust of the winding-bar to the devices for engaging the winding portion of said mechanism with the main windii 1gwheel, as set forth.

3; A watch-case having the described improvements, whereby the case is made freely interchangeable with any suitably-constructed movement, said improvements consisting in the longitudinally-movable winding-bar or keypipe, adapted to engage with a suitably-constructed movement without having a positive connection therewith, and a device for hold ing said key-pipe in different positions, said device being entirely independent of the movement and outside of the movement-holding space in the case, as set forth.

4. In a watch-case, the combination-of the pendant having a spring jaw or jaws secured thereto, said jaw or jaws being entirely indeto this specification, in the presence of two pendent of the movement, and the movable subscribingwitnesses, this 12th day of Septe1n- I0 winding-bar adapted to engage with a suitablyber, 1882.

constructed movement without having a posi- 5 tive connection therewith, said bar having one 1 D UALE CHURCH or more grooves or their equivalents, adapted Witnesses: to oo-operate with said jaws, as set forth. 0. F. BROWN,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name A.- L. WHITE. 

